Arizona

While I was in Arizona the past 2 weeks, God showed me how great and faithful He is. He allowed teams to go out and boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how it is the only hope and unchanging truth in this world that we have. I had the opportunity to go into a couple of villages. The one that I was really excited about was Gunsight, because I had went there with a group from my church last year. The kids get older and it makes you really happy to see them and love on them, but what really stood out to me was how much they remember. When we interacted with them one on one and asked them questions about the gospel and their sin and what Christ had done to reconcile us to Himself, I could see the Holy Spirit at work. He was allowing them to recall and ponder the truth that was set before them about Jesus Christ through the Word of God. Even though none of those kids came to know God's grace in a saving way that last week that I am aware of, I know that God graciously allowed us to plant seeds that He will sow. Through continually speaking the gospel and showing it through our actions in the ways that we loved on the children and played with them,God will do what will most glorify Himself. And I praise Him for that. It reminded me oh so much about how we have no problem walking into an area such as that and being fully ready to proclaim that glorious truth yet how we won't branch out and walk next door and share that message of hope and salvation to our neighbor or doctor. God has
given me a deeper burden and desperation to reach the lost this week and humble
myself before Him who is great and able because I on my own am unworthy to
share the gospel. Yet encourages me to encourage you to cling to the cross of
Christ because He took what we deserved (the wrath of God) and our sinful souls are counted free. Therefore freeing us to share the gospel with boldness, lovingly obeying our GREAT KING.

Coming Home....

As we travel home, our hearts are heavy with emotions, burdens and joys. We find ourselves missing Arizona in many ways...

-Biblical community that sleeps, eats, ministers and worships together every day.
-The absence of the distractions of email and television.
-The joy of hearing about transformed lives daily (from people who have never seen it before).
-Being tackled by numerous kids who just want to be hugged and loved.
-Corporate worship daily.....

Of course there are things we don't miss including flies in our food, dust in every fiber of our clothing (and bodies), 110 degree weather, etc. But those things pale in comparison to the glory of our great God. We will gladly endure these small inconveniences for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Isn't He worth more than our comfort? our priorities? our wants/desires? our opinion? YES, He is! He is worth more than my schedule, my plan, my time, my desires, my way.... I surrender it all to Him and Him alone! He gets all of the glory for anything good that comes of the work done on the reservation. We have done nothing...He has done everything.

Thank you all for your prayers for us while we were in Arizona. We are coming home to Birmingham for about 8 days of rest before we leave for Uganda. The team will be in Uganda for 2 weeks. Please pray for the team as they will be working daily from before sun-up until late into the night. They are expected to lead in ways many of them have never done (e.g. lead conference topics for over 1000 pastors). They will be stepping far outside of their experience and education. This is something only God can do. And, He will do it. He has called us to it, and He will accomplish His work. Please continue to pray.

Loving on those in need

Last week I went to Santa Rosa. This was my third time there, but my second time to do VBS. I went last year and became friends with a boy named Gabriel. I didn't want to go last year because I wanted to go to Covered Wells. I had a good relationship with all the people in Covered Wells, so I wanted to do VBS there. I knew God was calling me to Santa Rosa last year, but I didn't know why so I went.

That was when I became friends with Gabriel. He didn't want to have anything to do with my group so I hung out with him and showed Christ's love. This year I got to hang out with him. One day while we were outside watching the kids playing in the water, he told me that he didn't believe in God. I as not shocked by this because I guess last year that he didn't. I asked him If he had always never believed or just now not believing. He said that he use to believe, but now he is not believing. I asked why and he told me his story.

He said that when he as younger, he was abused by his parents. He said that he prayed to God to get him out of this, but he was never taken out of it. Years later he was finally taken out of this mess and was sent to live with his grandmother. I knew something was up with his family, but I was not quite sure. He wouldn't talk the rest of the VBS becuase he was emotionally overwhelmed with what he just said to me because I'm the first person besides his family that he told his story

It really hurt my heart and I cried for him because I went through the same thing he went through. He was like a new kid the next day. He said that he was very happy that I knew what he went through and I was able to understand what he was walking about. He said that he was relieved to get all that off of his chest. He is doing a lot better, but I ask that you all pray for him becuase he still needs love and people to talk to. We both are going to stay on touch so people pray for me about that because I want my words to be Christ centered. May God bless you all.
Brittney

Monday is full of firsts...

The Monday of any mission trip in the desert is full of firsts, even for those people who have been before. Though we have two groups (one from Indiana and one from Louisiana) who have been with us before, Mondays still bring newness.

Today, one group is going to Hickiwan, a new village to them. They have been to Topawa before, but this time, they were assigned Hickiwan. The leader of the group, Art, said that when he got the assignment, he picked up the phone to call and ask for the old village. But, God said "No, I want you in Hickiwan." So, he submitted to God's calling, and today, they are going to Hickiwan for the first time. We are praying for God to work in mighty ways in and through that group.

Monday is a day to meet new people and begin to establish new relationships with the T.O. people. Taking God's glory and fame to the nations....a new day for that especially!

It's a new day for the heat...it will be over 104 today. The predictions go up to 110 this week. But, we press on for His mercies, grace and strength are NEW every day. Praise Him for the newness. May we never forget that He alone causes the NEWNESS in each day.

Please pray for all of our staff, as the length of time here and the heat and the amount of work are wearing on all of them. Pray for continued health, strength and perseverance. Pray that God would receive all the glory for anything that is done or said. To Him alone be the honor!

On the Res....

It’s a new day on the reservation. Just as we get to see the sun rise over the desert each morning, we are in constant awe of God’s grace and mercies that are new each morning. While we go to bed completely exhausted and worn out from the day, we are refreshed and reminded of God’s goodness every day!
This past week we have seen groups come from Texas and Georgia, as well as many individuals from Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Alabama, and Delaware. Groups went to villages each day including Santa Rosa, Kaka, Little Tucson, Menegers, and Choulic. What a blessing to hear the stories of lives changed each day! God moved, and we witnessed it.
Today, the interns as well as Jodie, Lindsey and Sam helped to completely clean the church and Mosaic building. It was a TON of work, but we saw the entire team come together to make it happen. We are so proud of everyone giving their best effort. Christ was showing through each person as they worked diligently.
This week the groups are going to Chui-Chui, Hickiwan, Gunsight and Topawa. We are eager to see God at work in each of these communities. More than that we are seeing our ministry team become more aware of God’s goodness in EVERY thing. From the beautiful sunset to the gift of water on a hot day…or the opportunity to eat…or to have a bathroom…inside. God’s goodness can be seen every day in everything. We just have to be aware of His Sovereignty and thank Him for His gifts. We are awed to get the privilege to serve so that others can come to know His name! It’s all for His glory! Praise Him and Him alone!

The return of 1st Nation to the 1st Nation

It has been one week since I (Deanna) have returned home to the Tohono O'odham Reservation and so far it has been an exciting, frustrating, eye opening, confusing, and overall, a difficult first week home. In Guatemala I witnessed people living in the worst conditions ever: famine, malnutrition, disease, rats (the size of cats), all living in a dump...literally. But, in the middle of the dump I met people, mostly single mothers and their children with absolutely nothing and yet they were so happy that if all they got from this life was that they received and knew the love of Christ, they would be content and happy with that. But, I come home and the people here are so unsatisfied with how much they do have, they want more and more and more, and they don't realize all they need is Christ's love. Bottom line, to know the love of God is all we really need.
I want to explain to people here the things I have witnessed and about the kids and adults I got to love on. But, no one will ever truly understand the picture that is forever in my mind of Guatemala and that makes it hard share because I know that I won't be able to change everyone. However, God CAN and this is something I have to constantly remind myself of.

Pictures will be up soon, we are having technical difficulties.

She Won't Go Away.....

Have you ever had a song stuck in your head that won't go away? Something childish or annoying, and you can't make it stop? Or perhaps an image you saw years ago that keeps reminding you of something you've done? The image I have is a little different...it's a person..her name is Concepcion.

I met her last year in the dump of Guatemala City. She and her husband were both working. She made tortillas for a business, and he recycled items. However, Concepcion's husband was killed this past year by gunshot. He left behind 5 daughters, and Concepcion had to raise them by herself.

Earlier this spring, Concepcion's home was taken away by the "developer" of the dump, and she had to move to another area. As bizaare as it may seem, there are rules that govern the community of the dump. So, she left behind her home and had to start over. She was sent to a new area of the dump..right next to the fresh heaps of trash that are trucked in daily.

With funds sent by various people, a new shack was built for her with wood and tin. It has no holes and provides adequate shelter for them. The biggest gift...according to Concepcion..is a bunk bed that has 3 mattresses. All of them sleep on beds now (2 to a twin mattress). She is thankful beyond words.

As we talk with her, she begins to cry about the mattresses. She is so grateful to have them. But, she doesn't know how she's going to provide food today. You see, it's been raining for several days straight (including a tropical storm), so workers in the dump can't work as usual. They would fall through the trash and get hurt. No one is working right now, so there is no money. Keep in mind that Concepcion generally makes $1-$2 per day, so this is a great loss for her.

My heart breaks. The image of her crying and asking God to bless us overwhelms me. Did I even thank God for my mattress this morning? Did I thank Him for the ability to work? Am I just a healed leper who finds comfort in my own healing without thanking The Healer?

When we left the dump that day, a friend told me that Concepcion was longing for the day when she could own her own tortilla business. She could make more money and provide for her girls if she had her own tortilla maker. The thought never left me...God stirred us to make sure that she was able to have it. Now, she does. But, her image still lingers in my mind. I must get back to her...I must go...I must.